Global Food Regulation Highlights | December 2023

To help food business stakeholders to navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape in the global food industry, ChemLinked presented Global Food Regulation Highlights, a monthly report which delivers major and general regulation dynamics all around the world. Find out what's new on food regulation worldwide in December of 2023 below:

China

On December 11, 2023, National Health Commission (NHC) announced to seek public comments on 21 national food safety standards, involving food contact materials (FCM), dairy products, testing in Chemistry, Microbiology, and Toxicology, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for health food, Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and food additives. Any comments can be submitted online prior to February 10, 2024. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in China:

• China Adds Ginseng, American Ginseng, and Lingzhi to Health Food Raw Material Directory

• China Releases Guidelines for the Standardization of Health Food Logo Labeling

• China Reduces Tariffs for FSMP Products in 2024

• CFSA Consults on Two Food Raw Materials, Including a Probiotic Strain

• CFSA Consults on Three New Food Additives

• China Customs Rejected 182 Batches of Imported Food in November 2023, Involving Infant Formula and Dairy Products

• SAMR Drafts the Key Points for Centralized Certification Review of "Dual No Health Food" in Production and on Sale

• Hong Kong to Fully Enforce the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2021

• Taiwan Releases GMP for Health Food

South Korea

On December 27, 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) published the latest version of Health Functional Food Code. Main amendments include:

(1) Modifying the precautions, specifications, and daily intake amounts of nine functional ingredients following the latest re-evaluation results, including Coenzyme Q10, Squalene, Conjugated Linolenic Acid, NAG, Oat Dietary Fiber, Inulin/Chicory Extract, Chitosan/Chitooligosaccharide, Garcinia Cambogia Extract, and Aloe Gel;

(2) Introducing a new product type of long-acting product;

(3) Expanding the manufacturing standards for aloe vera gel, among other things. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea Revises the Enforcement Rule of the Imported Food Act

• South Korea Modifies the Enforcement Decree of the Imported Food Act

• South Korea Newly Designates 2 Prohibited Ingredients in Foods

• South Korea Updates Food Additive Code, Introducing New Food Additives

• South Korea Consults on Enforcement Rule of Imported Food Act

• South Korea Consults on the Guidance on Setting Tolerance Levels for Pesticide and Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods

• South Korea Consults on Food Code

• South Korea Consults on Food Labeling Standard

• South Korea Consults on Health Functional Food Code

• South Korea Revises the Regulation of False Labeling or Advertising Contents of Food

Japan 

On December 20, 2023, Japan issued amendment regarding the revision of eight pesticides and veterinary drugs in certain food products. The amendment will be implemented immediately upon publication. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Japan Publicly Solicits Opinions on the Evaluation of Three Food Safety-related Substances

Southeast Asia 

In December, Indonesia BPOM revealed the draft of the regulation regarding food packaging. The draft covers the requirements for food packaging materials, food contact substances, recycled packaging, and testing. In the annexes, the draft lists the permitted food packaging materials, including seven kinds of materials, namely, plastic, rubber and elastomer, paper and carton, ceramic, glass, metals and metal alloys, and multilayer. Requirements for migration and extraction testing of these materials are also clarified. In addition, it lists the food contact substances permitted/prohibited for use as food packaging. Once the draft is approved, enterprises must adjust the packaging of their food products within 12 months. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in Southeast Asia:

• Thailand Finalized the New Regulation regarding Prescribing the Principle, Conditions, Methods, and Proportion of Food Additives (No.3)

• Thailand Consults on the Draft Regarding the Display of Nutrition Symbols on Food Labels

• Thailand to Amend Regulations Regarding Oils, Fats, and Fish Oil

• Philippines Consults on Guidelines on the Recall of Health Products

• Malaysian Halal Certifications Procedure for International Manufacturing

• Malaysia to Revise Food Regulation 1985 — Draft Bill No.3 in 2023, No.4 in 2023 and No.5 in 2023

• Vietnam Publishes the List of Authorized Organizations for EPR Recycling of Products and Packaging

• Vietnam Issues Circular on Nutrition Labeling for Foods

EU 

On December 18, 2023, the Council reached an agreement (general approach) on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) proposal. This development marks a significant step forward. Amendments agreed by the Council include further clarifications on the labelling of packaging, ensuring that consumers are well informed about the material composition of packaging and its proper disposal when it becomes waste, etc. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in EU:

• EU Releases Methods of Sampling and Analysis for the Control of the Levels of Plant Toxins in Food

• EU Amends the Recognition of Certain Control Authorities and Control Bodies for the Purpose of Importing Organic Products into the Union

• EU Amends Model Animal Health Certificates, Model Official Certificates, Model Animal Health/Official Certificates and Private Attestation, for the Entry into the Union

• EU Unveils Supplementing Sustainability Reporting Standards

• EU's Updates on Novel Food: A) Apple Fruit Cell Culture Biomass; B) Partially Hydrolysed Protein from Spent Barley (Hordeum Vulgare) and Rice (Oryza Sativa); C) Conditions of Use of the Novel Food Astaxanthin-Rich Oleoresin from Haematococcus Pluvialis Algae

• EU's Updates on Pesticide Residue: G/SPS/N/EU/702

UK 

On December 19, 2023, UK updated requirements for importers, retailers and wholesalers selling and labelling wine in Great Britain, including labelling laws for wine imports into England from 1 January 2024.  (Read More)

More regulation highlights in UK:

• UK Sets New GB MRLs for Isoflucypram, and Mandipropamid

• UK Publishes the Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 

US 

On December 19, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued document 2023-27857, proposing to amend the food additive regulations. According to the document, FDA approved calcium formate as an acidifying agent in animal feed and drinking water. The addition of calcium formate helps lower the pH levels and will be limited to a maximum of 1.2 percent of the complete feed. The regulation became effective on December 19, 2023. (Read More)

More regulation highlights in America:

• U.S. Revises the Residue Limits for Two Substances in a Variety of Food Products

• U.S. Provides Updates and FAQs Supporting Compliance with Food Traceability Rule

• FDA Releases Supplemental Response Regarding D-tagatose Labeling on Nutrition Facts Label

• US APHIS Unveils eFile System for Simplified Animal and Plant Health Permit Management

Canada 

On December 12, 2023, Health Canada unveiled NOM/ADM-0211 with immediate effect, modifying the List of Permitted Colouring Agents to extend the use of allura red as a colouring agent in fruit flavoured beer.  (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Canada:

• Canada Consulted on Transition Strategy to Prepare for the Expiration of Interim Policy to Mitigate Infant Formula Shortages

• Canada Proposes Three Amendments to the Table of Reference Amounts for Food (TRA)

• Canada Proposes MRLs for Cyclaniliprole and Dimethenamid in food products 

Australia and New Zealand 

On November 11, 2023, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) called for submission on an application to permit the use of cultured quail cells made with embryonic fibroblasts originating from Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail), as a novel food ingredient in food products. This is the first cell-cultured food application to be assessed in Australia and New Zealand. Any comments can be submitted before February 5, 2024. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Australia and New Zealand:

• FSANZ Issues Amendment No. 224 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

• New Zealand to Amend the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds) Food Notice

• Australia Announces Two Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) Exemption Request Forms are Available

• FSANZ Approves 2022 MRL Harmonisation Proposal

• New Zealand Updates Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for Agricultural Compounds

To ensure the timely responding to the regulation changes and updates, also to avoid the negative impact on food market access and business operation, it is highly recommended to contact us for customized risk alert & monitoring report service, which allows you to track the regulation dynamics for the certain food categories and certain markets. You may click the sample of regulatory monitoring report for more details.

More Editions of Global Food Regulation Highlights in 2023：

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | November 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | October 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | September 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | August 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | July 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | June 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | May 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | April 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | March 2023
  

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | February 2023

• Global Food Regulation Highlights | January 2023